Fans around the world are preparing to honor Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, the Mexican songstress who was tragically killed at the age of 23, on the 20th anniversary of her death.

Texas Celebrates Selena

Selena was a groundbreaking, Grammy winning, Latina artist who was tragically shot and killed by a former business partner in 1995. Tuesday, March 31, will mark the 20th anniversary of Selena’s death, and her home state of Texas is hosting countless celebrations in her honor over the weekend.

Dallas will host one of the biggest celebrations, complete with an art show, music and a look-a-like contest. Corpus Christi, Selena’s hometown, will also be celebrating the singer with a massive, two-day festival, Fiesta de la Flor, beginning April 17, though it’s likely smaller celebrations will be in effect this weekend. But the celebrations are in no way limited to Texas. On Friday night, LA will host “A Tribute to Selena.”

Fans will also be able to celebrate at home with a Telemundo special, Siempre Selena, airing Sunday. The documentary special promises brand new home footage of the beloved singer, as well as new interviews with her friends and family.

Many of the celebrations honoring Selena will also include screenings of the 1997 biopic starring Jennifer Lopez. Lopez recently opened up about why Selena remains such a cultural icon 20 years after her death.

“People like that don’t come along every day. There is never going to be another Selena. And as far as music goes, that’s what’s beautiful about artistry. Somebody is going to come along and move the world in a different way…But it’s not something that happens all the time. It’s a special thing that Selena had. That’s why we’re still talking about her 20 years later,” Lopez told Billboard.

Article by Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Olivia Truffaut-Wong was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where she developed her love of all things entertainment. After moving to New York City to earn her degree in Film Studies, she stayed on the East Coast to follow her passion and become an entertainment writer. She lives on a diet of television, movies and food.